I froze in the doorway.
The air left my lungs.
My fingers went numb against the doorframe.
My fiancé was tangled up with my cousin.
Three years of cancelled shows. Missed contracts and quiet compromise dissolved in a single glance.
" Shh…we don't want anyone hearing us" My fiancé spoke in a low voice.
" Demian, please tell Grandma about us already" Nia said impatiently " Don't you love me anymore? I'm tired of pretending already"
" Nia, I love you. You know this is all for Grandma"
My phone slipped from my numb hands crashing on the marble floor. I launched at him. Voice shaking with rage, hands trembling.
" How could you do this to me?
I…trusted you with everything. I …. Won't stay with you after this"
A document slammed on the table, rattling the glass
" Walk away and you leave with nothing. Remember, every asset, is in my name " His calm voice cut deeper than a knife
Nia sneered " Stop acting like this would've been a love marriage"
I ground my teeth even as my hand balled into a fist " Shut up Nia. This doesn't concern you"
Demian's voice was cold and controlled
" I love Nia, but we'll still get married as planned unless you want to walk away and get nothing"
His words hit me like ice
I stood frozen, the paper trembling in my hand. The life I had built, the dreams I thought were mine… gone.
" Why would you do this to me? I turned down, brand deals for you " I said, my eyes threatening to betray me .
" Eliza, you have no background" Demian's voice wasn't loud , it was cold and distant " I am the best you can do"
My body froze. My heart shattered, and my hands shook at my side.He offered no explanation. No apology. Only entitlement. He knew it, I wasn't the same Eliza of three years ago.
"You're only lucky Demian's Grandma favours you or else" Nia snapped
Outside, the city lights blurred into streaks of gold and red through the glass. The penthouse felt cold and suffocating, the chandelier casting harsh shadows like accusing fingers. Even the air seemed heavy with lies.
" Did you ever love me?" My fear hung in my throat. I asked the question, almost dreading the answer.
" Demian, tell me this was all a mistake"
I was struggling to let my happily ever after slip away. I held onto his arm.
" I'll forget all of this if you end this with Nia now"
Demian jerked his arm away "Eliza stop this rubbish" Demian snapped " If you want, you can leave. I'm not leaving Nia"
I did expect to hear it, but somehow it hurt hearing it. This was the entitled arrogant man I had fallen for. I had stepped out of the spotlight to support his dreams .
Nia leaned closer to me " Remember when I stood across the room unnoticed? The stylist swarmed you , everyone wanted Eliza. That was the day, I decided I would take everything from you" Nia whispered loud enough for me to hear alone.
" So every time you said I was lucky, it wasn't admiration but resentment" My voice trembled
" There's only room for one Stone at the top"
" You both deserve each other"
No ring was worth this hurt. I stepped outside the penthouse. I had to hold on to every last bit of self-respect I had. Three years ago no man would have dared to hurt me like this.
I crumpled down on the floor crying my eyes out.
The first time I closed a show at Paris Fashion Week, the crowd had gone silent before I even stepped out.
The lights dimmed.
My name flashed across the massive LED screen.
ELIZA STONE.
Cameras erupted. Editors leaned forward in their seats. Buyers whispered. Influencers lifted their phones.
"She's only twenty-one."
"She's the one who outsold Milan last season."
I didn't walk.
I ruled.
Every step was calculated. Every turn, deliberate. The dress I designed myself shimmered like liquid gold beneath the lights. When I reached the end of the runway, I didn't smile.
I paused.
And the entire hall rose to their feet.
A standing ovation.
For me.
When I decided to step out of the spotlight for him.
"Are you insane?" my manager had shouted when I declined the exclusive cover feature with kijath's Bazaar.
"You're at your peak, Eliza! You don't disappear at the top!"
But I smiled.
"Clear my schedule for the next three months."
"For what?"
"For him."
I cancelled Paris. I postponed Milan. I handed my assistant the keys to my penthouse and moved into Demian's world.
For love.
This wasn't my forever. The storm swallowed my sobs, drowning them beneath sheets of relentless rain. This was hurt , one that came clouding my forever.
I stepped into my apartment, drenched to my toes. I lay on my bed scrolling through the net.
A notification popped up Nia had just posted something.
I hesitated thinking for a minute before clicking on it .My pulse thundered in my ear. My breathing became uneven and unstable. It was a photo of Nia and Demian sharing a kiss.
My hands held my chest as though trying to relieve the pain. How was I blind not to have realized? Demian I gave you everything, my love, my life, my ambition. I didn't deserve this, not from you.
Netizens quickly dug up old engagement photos of Demian and me.
Thought he was engaged to Eliza Stone
Boyfriend snatcher, give him back
That's Eliza's cousin.
Why is she with Eliza's fiance?
Nia immediately posted in response to the comment.
" Finally realized I was the better choice"
Give him back to Eliza
Demian became the trending topic within minutes.
A notification popped up again
This time it was a photoshopped picture of me and a man .
My eyes widened in confusion. What was really happening here? And just like that the narrative changed in seconds.
So Eliza is a slut
No wonder Demian left her
Get out of the industry you filthy whore
One should never marry a model.
As insults flooded my screen, I remembered different headlines.
"Eliza Stone: The Runway Empress."
"The Girl Who Rebuilt the Stone Legacy."
"From Family Scandal to Fashion Royalty."
Now the comments read:
Slut.
Gold digger.
Attention seeker.
How quickly the world rewrites a queen into a villain.
Guys, the previous picture was photoshopped. Eliza's original picture was posted one year ago.
Check her account guys.
I just checked, you're right
Poor Eliza , after the betrayal they still dare to defame her.
Nia you're such a cruel human
Demian's message chimed in
Eliza, control your followers. Nia's fragile.
The sound of glass crashing down jolted me from my bed.
" Who's there?"
Glass shatters.
A stone ro
lled across the floor
A note was tied around it:
I unwrapped it slowly
If you think Demian ruined you… wait until till you see what I do next.